January 2024 – Identifying Whole Grain-Rich Foods

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Whole grains are an essential part of a healthy diet, which is why the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) meal pattern requires that at least one serving of grains per day be whole grain-rich* (WGR).

CACFP programs use several pieces of information on a food package [Read More]

2024-01-04T15:55:47-06:00January 4th, 2024|

December 2023 – Celebrating With Creditable Grains

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December is a month full of holiday celebrations, such as Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and more. It is also a great time to model healthy habits by showing different ways to celebrate. We traditionally think grain-based desserts like brownies, cakes, and cookies are essential during festivities. However, several [Read More]

2023-11-28T13:13:13-06:00November 19th, 2023|

November 2023 – Fundamentals of Measuring: Weight and Volume

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Which weighs more: a pound of lettuce or a pound of carrots? It’s a trick question! They weigh the same. However, if you think about how much space each would take up, a pound of lettuce would fill many more cups than a pound of carrots. Measuring [Read More]

2023-11-02T11:38:45-05:00October 20th, 2023|

October 2023 – Staff and Workplace Wellness

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In a month known for monsters and candy, the best trick is treating your employees to better health and wellness. Employee wellness opportunities can help staff feel better, live healthier, and be more present for the children in your program. Healthy adults model healthy living for [Read More]

2023-11-02T11:45:35-05:00September 26th, 2023|

September 2023 – Tools for Determining Amounts of Food to Purchase

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Do you ever wish you could snap your fingers and the next week’s shopping list would appear? The Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Programs offers tools to help you do that with a mouse click or tap of the finger.

This Mealtime Memo describes the three [Read More]

2023-11-02T16:38:15-05:00August 30th, 2023|

August 2023 – Keeping Food Safe in Summer Heat

Staying cool may be challenging during summer, especially when buying and transporting groceries. Keeping foods in safe temperatures also requires more attention in the summer. This Mealtime Memo provides tips for keeping purchased foods safe between the store and your kitchen, whether in a center or home. The information applies to both delivery services [Read More]

2023-09-11T10:35:53-05:00August 29th, 2023|

July 2023 – Creating Variety and Flavor With Seasonal Produce

Have you ever eaten a fresh apple or a peach right off a tree? If so, you know seasonal produce is fresh and tastes delicious, making children more likely to eat it. In addition to great taste, buying seasonal products also helps sustain the local economy.

Seasonal fruits and vegetables may vary depending [Read More]

2023-11-02T12:07:50-05:00August 7th, 2023|

June 2023 – Supporting Healthy Iron Intake

In the United States, about 7% of children ages 1–5 have iron deficiency anemia—and this number is even higher for children ages 1–2. Iron deficiency anemia occurs when there is not enough iron in the body to produce healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen throughout the body. Our bodies only need a small [Read More]

2023-11-01T14:08:44-05:00May 29th, 2023|

May 2023 – Standardized Recipes

How often do you hear, “This looks different than last time!” or “This doesn’t taste the same as it usually does!”? Using standardized recipes can help to ensure your recipe turns out the same way each time you make it. It is a good practice to use a standardized recipe when a menu item [Read More]

2023-05-04T10:31:32-05:00May 2nd, 2023|

April 2023 – Nutrition Facts Labels and the CACFP

The Nutrition Facts label on food packages provides helpful information. For example, it features key information for crediting tofu and determining if a yogurt or cereal meets the sugar limit requirements in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). It is a great tool to use when planning menus to determine creditable foods.

A [Read More]

2023-04-20T11:46:08-05:00March 27th, 2023|
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